Felten was involved in the architectural transformation of St Petersburg, replacing the wooden fences along the River Neva with mighty granite quays (1762-1780), with parapets and steps running down to the water. Other works included the reconstruction of Palace Square (1779). Keeping the curved shape of the square, built to a plan by Yury Felten, Karl Rossi created an irregularly shaped, curved open space, devising the faades of the [General Staff] buildings so that the form of the splendid square became dominant.